Citizen reportedly plans to test a private security partnership in Chicago

Citizen

Citizen is planning a partnership with a private security outfit in Chicago. Citizen is interested in offering security services despite concerns about its app, according to a report.

The check-in service for users would be provided by the Chicago Securitas partnership. After someone reported a break-in, Securitas could follow up to make sure they're all right, or a user could schedule a visit through Citizen. Citizen already offers a subscription emergency response service called Protect, but it consists of voice or video calls with an agent who can contact traditional emergency services, not a full-fledged security force.

Private security partnerships have been tried before. The company dispatched Citizen- branded cars in Los Angeles in 2021. Citizen confirmed that it had run a small trial of the service, but had no plans to launch its own private security force. The new program description is more restrained than the options laid out in its earlier plans, where it described something more akin to a private police alternative that could respond to an active crisis.

Services like Securitas are not new. Citizen, whose core service involves letting users see nearby reported crimes and other emergencies, has drawn criticism for encouraging paranoia and even a bounty in one case. It is part of a larger trend of selling specialized services through consumer apps.

While a Citizen representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge, the company told Motherboard that they are always exploring product features and partnerships that can help keep Citizen users and our communities safer.